11 Good, Middle Class Jobs

While every worker has a different income goal, many would be happy reaching the $55,000 mark. As of 2010, the U.S. median household income was $49,445, so a job paying $55,000 is on the higher end of household earnings.

If you'd like to make $55,000 a year, check out this list of 11 occupations that pay around that amount. These jobs vary in education level required, industry and type of work, so there's something for almost everyone.


1. Anthropologist and archaeologist
What they do: Anthropologists and archaeologists study the origin, development and behavior of past and present humans. They examine the cultures, languages, archaeological remains and physical characteristics of people in various parts of the world.

• Typical education level needed to enter the occupation: Master's degree
• Median annual pay: $54,230

2. Boilermaker
What they do: Boilermakers install, maintain and repair boiler systems, a physically demanding and often dangerous job. Many workers travel to worksites and live away from home for long periods of time.

• Typical education level: High-school diploma or equivalent
• Median annual pay: $54,640

3. Cartographer and photogrammetrist
What they do: Cartographers and photogrammetrists measure, analyze and interpret geographic information to create maps and charts for political, cultural, educational and other purposes. Cartographers are general mapmakers, while photogrammetrists are specialists who use aerial photographs to create maps.

• Typical education level: Bachelor's degree
• Median annual pay: $54,510

4. Electrical and electronic engineering technician
What they do: These technicians help engineers design and develop computers, communications equipment, medical monitoring devices, navigational equipment and other electrical and electronic equipment. They test and evaluate products, using measuring and diagnostic devices.

• Typical education level: Associate degree
• Median annual pay: $56,040

5. Librarian
What they do: Librarians maintain library collections, help people find books and do other work as needed to keep a library operating.

• Typical education level: Master's degree
• Median annual pay: $54,500

6. Loan officer
What they do: Loan officers evaluate, authorize or recommend approval of loan applications for people and businesses. These officers often work for commercial banks, credit unions, mortgage companies or related financial institutions.

• Typical education level: High-school diploma or equivalent
• Median annual pay: $56,490

7. Police officer and detective
What they do: Police officers enforce laws to protect people and property. Detectives gather facts and supportive evidence to help uncover and solve crimes.

• Typical education level: High-school diploma or equivalent
• Median annual pay: $55,010

8. Radiologic technologist
What they do: Radiologic technologists perform diagnostic imaging examinations on patients. They work with radiologists to determine if other scans or images need to be taken.

• Typical education level: Associate degree
• Median annual pay: $54,340

9. Subway and streetcar operator
What they do: Subway and streetcar operators transport passengers in urban and suburban areas via vehicles that travel underground, on above-ground and elevated tracks, on streets or on separate tracks. These workers are most often employed by the local government.

• Typical education level: High-school diploma or equivalent
• Median annual pay: $56,880

10. Telecommunications equipment installer and repairer (except line installer)
What they do: Also known as telecom technicians, these workers set up and maintain devices or equipment that carry communications signals, connect to telephone lines or access the Internet.

• Typical education level: Postsecondary nondegree award
• Median annual pay: $54,710

11. Writer and author
What they do: Writers and authors develop content for books, advertisements, movies, music, websites, digital and print publications and other media.

• Typical education level: Bachelor's degree
• Median annual pay: $55,420

Source: Monster

Surprising Six-Figure Jobs

Clearing trees. Performing magic tricks. Pet sitting. Repairing other people's credit. These people are earning $100,000 or more.


Reads Minds, Does Magic Tricks

• Name: Wayne Hoffman
• Pay: $135,000
• Age: 30

It all started as a hobby, when I got a magic set for Christmas as a kid. At college, I studied psychology. And that's when I started getting interested in mentalism, which is geared toward mind-reading.

Times were rough at first and I had to bust my butt to get jobs, but now I have to turn away business, and I can take off time whenever I want.

Companies hire me to do entertainment for them, I'm also hired to work at trade shows, where companies set up a booth and I incorporate their sales message into my magic. I do college campus tours twice a year. I perform at theaters, and I do cruise ships, where I get flown out to an exotic location and perform magic on the ship -- I've been to Tahiti, Bora Bora, Hawaii, Venice and Japan.

On the low end, I make $4,000 and it can go anywhere up to $30,000 for one show. I never thought I would be making this kind of money.

[Hoffman said his annual income ranges anywhere from $100,000 to $325,000 a year depending on the number of jobs he books].


Sells Recycled Ink Cartridges

• Name: Lauren Elward
• Pay: $165,500
• Age: 33

I was an English teacher, and the copy machine at school was always breaking so I would make copies at home.

I had 125 kids a day. I can't count how many times I was running out to Staples getting more ink cartridges -- and it was all coming out of my pocket.

I looked online and there are companies out there [that recycle cartridges], but it wasn't a flooded market. So [my husband and I] invested about $1,000 and found some inexpensive guy from Europe to make a website for us.

We developed a relationship with a company that takes cartridges that have already been used, and recycles them, so they ship them out to our customers.

Our cartridges range from $10 to $30 -- if you were in the store you'd be paying $25 to $50 -- and toner [from our website, CastleInk.com] for the big copy machines can be hundreds of dollars cheaper.

I'm making quadruple what I made teaching. At one point, we were getting so many sales a day we couldn't believe how much money we were making.

People were like, "where are you getting this money to redo your whole backyard?" It's definitely nice to have, especially for a cushion for the kids. I'm putting a lot into savings for them.


Voice Actor For TV Commercials

• Name: Jonathan Lockwood
• Pay: $127,000
• Age: 46

I got into radio when I was very young, at 17. I was a deejay, and recording commercials [for local businesses] was part of my job.

As I moved from station to station, I found there wasn't a lot of money. So I started doing TV commercials. And when I was 32, I finally left my last radio station to work out of my home studio [recording TV commercials].

I do a lot of commercials for national furniture retailers. I announce the big sales. I just did an infomercial for eDiets where I introduce people who had success on eDiets. I do car dealers and laser vision correction doctors. I did a voice-over for an animated medical documentary. I'm doing the on-hold system for [a bank], so while people are on hold, they're listening to me talking about the various things the bank is offering.

I probably send out a total of 25 invoices a month. To do a 30-second commercial in a local market could be $100 to $250 per commercial, depending on the size, and [bigger jobs] can be $500 per spot.

[What I like most is] that I'm in shorts and t-shirts every day in my home, that going to work every day involves stepping into one of my bedrooms, that it doesn't take very long. It would really surprise me if I'm working more than 18 or 20 hours a week.

 

Runs A Tree-Clearing Business

• Name: Josh Skolnick
• Pay: $250,000
• Age: 29

When I was 10 or 11 years old I had my own little business pushing a lawn mower for people, and I continued with landscaping through middle school and high school. [By 2005, I had my own] mulch business. I had about 385 residential clients.

[One day], someone called and said they had a dead elm near their pool that no one would come cut down and remove. So I went out and [hired a contractor for the day to] cut down the tree. While I was out there, all the neighbors saw what I was doing and started asking me to cut down their trees, too.

After that, I started a tree service and sold my mulching business soon after.

Since starting [Monster Tree Service] in 2008, we've had over 10,000 customers. The first year in business we did well over $1 million in sales, and once we were three years in, we launched a franchise business.

I didn't go to college. But at 29 years old, I look at friends who just graduated medical school or are getting law degrees, still living at home with their parents, and I've got houses and millions of dollars worth of equipment.


Run Luxury Hotels For Dogs

• Name: Steven and Jason Parker
• Pay: $150,000-plus (each)
• Age: 28 and 25

Steven: When we were kids we would always ask our parents for a dog for our birthdays and holidays. When I was 14 and Jason was 12, we said "what if we start a dog-sitting business to show our parents we're responsible enough to take care of a dog?"

We [took care of 50 dogs] and went back to our parents, and they said "it's not that we don't believe you have the responsibility, it's that we don't like dogs."

But we loved what we were doing anyway. So we opened [a luxury dog hotel] in 2005 and it was an immediate success.

Jason: [To set ourselves apart, we have] cage-free rooms and suites, outdoor window views, and plasma TVs playing "Animal Planet."

Steven: In 2010, we started franchising, and we [just] sold our sixth franchise. We plan to open 100 stores within the next three to five years.

It's the American dream. We're first-generation Americans and came from humble beginnings, and we're just getting started. We want to be the Donald Trump of the pet care industry.

We like to have fun, too. Jason bought a Maserati. We took our mother to Hawaii for her wedding anniversary and to her hometown in Italy.


Cleans Up Credit Reports

• Name: Kevin Foster
• Pay: $103,000
• Age: 53

About five years ago, I went to go purchase a car, and the salesman said [no one would finance my loan]. Then he told me I had a 460 credit score. He said I needed to find someone to help me get my credit cleaned up. I called a [credit repair] company and enrolled.

It turned out there was another guy who lived in my same town with a very similar Social Security number, so his bad credit had gotten merged onto my credit report. [Once the credit repair company was done], my score went from a 460 to a 780.

[Three years later], I started going to national conferences that are like boot camps for credit repair and I learned how to legally and ethically launch my own company [TRW Credit Services].

I live in a small town and know every car dealership, every bank, so I started making phone calls to every person I knew at these places and told them my story. I said, "send me all your bad customers and I'll clean them up."

My total out of pocket was under $1,000 to launch my business out of a spare bedroom in our house.





Source: AOL

Most Underrated Jobs In America: Not Glamorous, But Well-Paid And Low Stress

Finding a job in this economy isn't easy, but one way to get ahead is to take a look at careers that fly below the radar of other job hunters.

That's what CareerCast has done in unveiling its latest list of underrated jobs, careers that the job-search website says offer increasing opportunities for job seekers new to the labor force, as well as those who need a career change.

What makes a job underrated? CareerCast says it's a combination of desirable job attributes -- high growth, low stress and rewarding opportunities -- combined with relatively low consideration among job seekers. In other words, these jobs aren't high on the lists of many people when asked what kinds of jobs they'd like to do.

CareerCast's list includes a wide variety of professions and includes jobs for which only a bit of additional education is needed after high school, as well as those that require a specialized degree or additional schooling. Most of the jobs are also well paying, with more than half earning annual salaries that top $60,000.

Could one of these be the right career for you? Review the gallery below and find out.


Read more "12 most underrated jobs in USA"





Source: AOL

Numerology and careers

Chances are, you probably haven't considered numerology when it comes to your job search or career assessment. Even if you're a skeptic of  "New Age" ideas, you'll find that determining your personal number and discovering corresponding personality characteristics is interesting and fun, but you may also find it to be a valuable tool that can assist you in finding a job that will truly make you happy.
Put simply, numerology is the language of numbers and their corresponding symbolic significance. Each number has its own "vibratory" influence.
Based on the belief that a person comes into this life on a certain date with a certain name for specific spiritual reasons, the "numbers" from this incident are used to describe who a person is and their life map. All you need is the birth date of an individual to unlock the secrets of numbers.
Each number from one through nine has certain characteristics with strengths and weaknesses, adding an interesting aspect to career choice assessment and job satisfaction.
Let's examine Steve Jobs' numbers:
To calculate his birth path number, we do the following:
Steve Jobs birth date:
2/24/55
Add the numbers in the year together:
1 + 9 + 5 + 5 = 20
To the year number, add the month and day of birth:
20 + 2 + 24 = 46
Add the end result together to obtain a one-digit number:
4 + 6 = 10  then 1 + 0 = 1
This makes Steve Jobs a No. 1 birth path number. Think of his innovation, leadership and determination; all signs of a typical No. 1. A birth path No. 1 is an independent innovator who works best alone. No. 1's remain dignified and dutiful. They are business oriented and will work without any respite until they achieve great fame.  When someone displays positive No. 1 traits, they are capable of significant creative inspiration and possess the enthusiasm and drive to succeed. A No. 1 will welcome obstacles and challenges, as they achieve great pleasure from combining their strengths with a daring attitude. A No. 1's desire for independence is often apparent, and they can tire easily of routine.
Other No. 1's: Henry Ford, Dick Cheney, Tiger Woods, Maria Shriver, Sean Connery, George Lucas, Tom Hanks.
Traits based on your personal number
It's important to keep in mind that personal birth path numbers offer broad descriptions of personalities and personal attributes. To be sure, some may find their personal number doesn't seem to match; however, it will prompt some introspection, and you just might end up learning that the traits do match you!
A note about "master numbers:"
Master numbers, 11 and 22, are not reduced to a single number, and are treated as pure, lone numbers. Master numbers have a strong vibration and emphasis on great learning. These numbers possess more power than single numbers.

No.1

• Leadership, independence.


• A natural leader and innovator; excellent in management levels.

Ideal careers
Inventor
Designer
Director
Retail business owner
Producer
Sales manager
Engineer
Executive
Small business owner

No. 2

• Cooperative, team player.


• Doesn't mind not being the boss.

Ideal careers
Lawyer
Diplomat
Clerk
Caterer
Insurance adjuster
Architect

No. 3

• Joyful, creative.


• Multitalented; requires self-expression for happiness at work.

Ideal careers
Artist
Musician
Medical field
Lawyer
Athlete
Designer
Actor

No. 4

• Structure; order.

• Best when working with form and structure and they crave an organized environment to produce their best work.

Ideal careers
Building trades
Mechanic
Accountant
Executive
Software designer
Banking

No. 5

• Craves variety.


• An ideal communicator with strong language skills.

Ideal careers
Salesperson
Advertising
Writer
Teacher
Editor
Marketing
E-commerce
Actor
Lawyer

No. 6

• Giving and receiving love.


• Strong in service to others and domestic concerns.

Ideal careers
Homemaker
Teacher
Artist
Florist
Singer
Beautician
Fashion field
Musician
Caterer

No. 7

• Spiritual inner knowledge.


• Philosophical with a yearning for truth and education.

Ideal careers
Healer
Author
Farmer
Photographer
Researcher

No. 8

• Material expression.


• Competitive and authoritative.

Ideal careers
Banker
Financier
Pharmacist
Engineer
Lawyer
Broker
Real estate

No. 9

• Humanitarian endeavors.


• Idealistic and compassionate.

Ideal careers
Scientist
Spiritual leader
Doctor
Teacher
Clergy
Diplomat


Using numerology to help navigate through life and business can help you achieve success and happiness and overcome obstacles. Numerology is easier to grasp when put into context of how the entire world revolves around numbers and mathematical equations. It stands to reason that the numbers we are born with play an integral role in determining our blueprint throughout our life journey.




Source: careerbuilder

7 In-Demand Jobs For Veterans

Serving in the military can lead to many exciting opportunities, both within the armed forces and after rejoining civilian life. But if you've finished serving in the military and aren't sure what's next in your career, consider some of the high demand occupations our economy needs, and also learn about educational opportunities the U.S.

Department of Labor offers to veterans. MyNextMove.org, a tool for created for the Department of Labor to offer job seekers and students, has a specific part of their site dedicated to veterans and the employment resources available to them, called My Next Move for Veterans.

Among these great resources is information about the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP), which offers up to 12 months of training assistance, to unemployed veterans between the ages of 35 and 60, towards an associate degree or certificate that leads to a high demand occupation.

Learn more about training opportunities for these in-demand jobs at VRAP, or browse openings for these jobs today.

Brickmasons and blockmasons*
2010 Median Pay: $46,930
Job outlook, 2010-20: 40% (much faster than average)

Description: Brickmasons and blockmasons use bricks and concrete blocks to build fences, walkways, walls and other structures. Although most masons learn through a formal apprenticeship, some learn informally on the job. Others learn through one- or two-year mason programs at technical colleges.


Dental hygienists
2010 Median Pay: $68,250
Job outlook, 2010-20: 38% (much faster than average)

Description: Dental hygienists clean teeth, examine patients for oral diseases such as gingivitis and provide other preventative dental care. They also educate patients on ways to improve and maintain good oral health. Dental hygienists typically need an associate's degree in dental hygiene. Every state requires dental hygienists to be licensed.

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics
2010 Median Pay: $30,360
Job outlook, 2010-20: 33% (much faster than average)

Description: EMTs and paramedics care for the sick or injured in emergency medical settings. People's lives often depend on their quick reaction and competent care. EMTs and paramedics respond to emergency calls, performing medical services and transporting patients to medical facilities. All EMTs and paramedics must complete a formal training program and all states require EMTs and paramedics to be licensed.


Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers
2010 Median Pay: $42,530
Job outlook, 2010-20: 34% (much faster than average)

Description: Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers--often referred to as HVACR technicians--work on heating, ventilation, cooling and refrigeration systems that control the air quality in many types of buildings. Because HVACR systems are increasingly complex, employers generally prefer applicants with postsecondary education or those who have completed a formal apprenticeship. Some states and localities require technicians to be licensed.


Medical equipment repairers
2010 Median Pay: $44,490
Job outlook, 2010-20: 31% (much faster than average)

Description: Medical equipment repairers install, maintain and repair patient care equipment. Employers generally prefer candidates who have an associate's degree in biomedical technology or engineering. Depending on the area of specialization, a bachelor's degree may be needed, especially for advancement.


Medical secretaries
2010 Median Pay: $34,660
Job outlook, 2010-20: 12% for all secretaries and administrative assistants (although medical secretaries are expected to have much-faster-than-average employment growth)

Description: Medical secretaries perform routine clerical and organizational tasks and organize files, draft messages, schedule appointments and support other staff. High school graduates with basic office and computer skills usually qualify for entry-level secretarial positions.

Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors
2010 Median Pay: $38,120
Job outlook, 2010-20: 27% (faster than average)

Description: Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors advise people who have alcoholism or other types of addiction, eating disorders or other behavioral problems. They provide treatment and support to help the client recover from addiction or modify problem behaviors. Educational requirements range from a high school diploma to a master's degree, depending on the setting, type of work, state regulations and level of responsibility.




Source: AOL

Best Careers For Extroverts

Every office has one. The Chatty Cathy who will not stop running her yap. She talks about her morning breakfast, her afternoon doctor's appointment, her evening dinner reservations ... well, you get the point.

It's time for a little perspective. Some careers are best filled by Cathys with outgoing, talkative personalities. Of course salespeople, teachers and broadcast reporters need to have the gift of gab, but those aren't the only three careers that call on professionals who love talking. Learn about these other seven occupations that are ideal for the most verbal and extroverted employees.


Sports Coach
There are some quiet moments in the workday of a sports coach, but not many. Much of the time they're more than just talking -- they're shouting encouragement or crying plays to athletes on a field or court. And the most prominent coaches earn handsome salaries to compensate for nursing so many sore throats: A recent Forbes article named New England Patriots' Bill Belichick as the highest-paid coach, with an annual salary of $7.5 million. Most in the profession, however, earn somewhere between $17,110 and $65,060 a year.

Event Planner
Event planners have a love for logistics. And the scale on which they organize weddings, business meetings, concerts, and more means they often have a love for talking, too. You'll spend plenty of time yapping as you convince a caterer to have an entire wedding banquet ready three weeks earlier for $300 cheaper, for instance. In 2011, meeting, convention and event planners had a salary range between $27,410 and $78,530, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Interpreter
More than any profession on this list, interpreters are dependent on their speech skills. You'll have to be comfortable speaking and writing in English, and at least one other language to land a job. Pay and demand varies by fluency and specialization in particular tongues: Although plenty of interpreters are needed to translate Romance languages, there is also increasing demand for those who understand Arabic, Middle Eastern and East Asian languages. The BLS predicts this profession will grow at a breakneck rate for the next eight years, with the most opportunity in large urban areas. The highest-paid make close to six-figures, but the average pay for an interpreter was $44,160 in 2011.





Human Resources Specialist
The name says it all -- this is a job that requires a people person. Human resources specialists recruit job candidates, conduct interviews, train personnel, offer guidance on policies and procedures, and manage employee relations. In 2011, an HR specialist's salary range was $29,850 to $94,700.


Corporate Fundraiser
Asking people to part with their money is a delicate business, even if you're requesting deep-pocketed organizations donate to worthwhile causes. That's why corporate fundraising doesn't just call to talented salespeople, but rather those who can finesse, motivate and inspire with their words. Job duties might also include a little event planning, and will definitely include a lot of paperwork. Salary.com reports that the current median salary for a fundraising manager is $85,381.


Hairdresser
Walk into a salon and you'll find that the most loquacious hairdresser is also the busiest. Learning to talk on the job helps a stylist build rapport with people, establish the types of styles they prefer and dislike, earn more tips, and ultimately, establish a larger client base. Having a way with words also helps the hairdresser who might have to advise against certain colors and cuts. Top earners made around $41,620 in 2011 and were based around the metropolitan area of Cape Girardeau, Mo.


Admissions Consultant
This position combines an outgoing personality with having a soft spot for young learners. Admissions consultants are in high demand these days, as the quest to enter coveted programs is no longer reserved for those on the undergraduate and graduate school level-even preschools have become selective with the students they admit. Consultants are hired based on their inside connections with school administrators; they liaise on behalf of well-paying parents and students to help with scheduling school tours and interviews. They also help parents and students understand and navigate the red tape of the application process. Salary.com reports average salaries around $38,000 per year, but a recent Businessweek article suggests that top consultants charge as much as $4,000 per MBA program, and that many applicants apply to at least five schools.

11 jobs that pay $55,000 a year

While every worker has a different income goal, many would be happy reaching the $55,000 mark. As of 2010, the U.S. median household income was $49,445, so a job paying $55,000 is on the higher end of household earnings.

If you'd like to make $55,000 a year, check out this list of 11 occupations that pay around that amount. These jobs vary in education level required, industry and type of work, so there's something for almost everyone:

1. Anthropologist and archaeologist
What they do: Anthropologists and archaeologists study the origin, development and behavior of past and present humans. They examine the cultures, languages, archaeological remains and physical characteristics of people in various parts of the world.
Typical education level needed to enter the occupation: Master's degree
Median annual pay: $54,230

2. Boilermaker
What they do: Boilermakers install, maintain and repair boiler systems, a physically demanding and often dangerous job. Many workers travel to worksites and live away from home for long periods of time.
Typical education level: High-school diploma or equivalent
Median annual pay: $54,640

3. Cartographer and photogrammetrist
What they do: Cartographers and photogrammetrists measure, analyze and interpret geographic information to create maps and charts for political, cultural, educational and other purposes. Cartographers are general mapmakers, while photogrammetrists are specialists who use aerial photographs to create maps.
Typical education level: Bachelor's degree
Median annual pay: $54,510

4. Electrical and electronic engineering technician
What they do: These technicians help engineers design and develop computers, communications equipment, medical monitoring devices, navigational equipment and other electrical and electronic equipment. They test and evaluate products, using measuring and diagnostic devices.
Typical education level: Associate degree
Median annual pay: $56,040

5. Librarian
What they do: Librarians maintain library collections, help people find books and do other work as needed to keep a library operating.
Typical education level: Master's degree
Median annual pay: $54,500

6. Loan officer
What they do: Loan officers evaluate, authorize or recommend approval of loan applications for people and businesses. These officers often work for commercial banks, credit unions, mortgage companies or related financial institutions.
Typical education level: High-school diploma or equivalent
Median annual pay: $56,490

7. Police officer and detective
What they do: Police officers enforce laws to protect people and property. Detectives gather facts and supportive evidence to help uncover and solve crimes.
Typical education level: High-school diploma or equivalent
Median annual pay: $55,010

8. Radiologic technologist
What they do: Radiologic technologists perform diagnostic imaging examinations on patients. They work with radiologists to determine if other scans or images need to be taken.
Typical education level: Associate degree
Median annual pay: $54,340

9. Subway and streetcar operator
What they do: Subway and streetcar operators transport passengers in urban and suburban areas via vehicles that travel underground, on above-ground and elevated tracks, on streets or on separate tracks. These workers are most often employed by the local government.
Typical education level: High-school diploma or equivalent
Median annual pay: $56,880

10. Telecommunications equipment installer and repairer (except line installer)
What they do: Also known as telecom technicians, these workers set up and maintain devices or equipment that carry communications signals, connect to telephone lines or access the Internet.
Typical education level: Postsecondary nondegree award
Median annual pay: $54,710

11. Writer and author
What they do: Writers and authors develop content for books, advertisements, movies, music, websites, digital and print publications and other media.
Typical education level: Bachelor's degree
Median annual pay: $55,420






Source: careerbuilder